Ciao Roma, Ciao Firenze.

I did it. I left Rome. I hated doing it, my stomach lurched a little as I pulled out of the station. might have also been the result of too much italian cafe and the disorientation of a massive train station which is much like the rest of the city- a colorful whirlwind of natives, travelers, venders, workers, noises and smells--its beautiful and alive, a perfect city.

What sets it apart from all the others, however, is its energy. Yes, the city itself is built upon thousands of years of culture and history-- contemporary business empires placed next to the remains of their ancient predecessors. The landscape alone is breathtaking but its the energy of the place that is what won my heart. With all the moving: the zipping cars, vespas and bikes, the loud talking and throngs of people, I was uncharacteristically calm and content.

my third day in, I met up with Erion again and moved my stuff to his bachelor(s) pad on the outskirts of the city. we rested up a bit then went out for the night. our first stop was a small (shady looking) pizzeria near his apartment. i was a skeptic at first but have since learned that you can't really go wrong with italian food. ever. we walked in and there are just sheets and sheets of pizza with every kind of topping imaginable. whatever you stomach-heart wants, you got it. we got a sampling of pizza which was great but what really killed me is my new favorite ball food: suppli.  these balls will trump any kind of ball cuisine you've ever had (stop being in the gutter, get out of it, wipe yourself off and wash your hands, you'll tarnish these delightful golden balls with gutter-grit). They are balls of mozzarella wrapped in a cozy blanket of tomato risotto then deep fried to create a crisp shell which gives way to creamy, cheesy ecstasy. I couldn't stop shoving food into my mouth to take a photo (you understand, right? forgive me? thank you.) but here's one I found, just to give you an idea:

Wipe your chin, you look like a fool.

After that we walked around the different areas of the city, popping into bars and cafes where Erion had friends (i swear he knows everyone) and strolling through the various piazzas and intricate webs of cobbled alleys lined with shuttered apartments and sagging clothes lines.  i think charming is the only word for it.

The next morning we woke up early and hopped on the scooter to jet over to Trastevere, a neighborhood on the west bank of the Tiber, home of the Porte Portese flea market-- a sprawling outdoor junk fair. So much junk everywhere. New junk, old junk, weird junk, questionable junk, crud junk. The best kind of junk. It was dirty and local and beautiful.

After roaming the market, we switched into tourist mode and headed for the colosseum and ruins. there is no way to explain them. i can say its huge and ancient but you know that. 2000 years of weather eroding the stone, reshaping it into what it is now and to think of all the feet that have walked in and around it. its unbelievable and overwhelming in both its structure and historical significance.

And then, to end the day with this:

Perfection.

And yes...I was sad to leave Rome but...now that I've hopped on the train and arrived in Florence to this?

...i think i'll pull through. been here 3 days so far and florence has already blown my heart up with its vistas. and no other city overflows with art like this one. its too much. but florence, in all its beauty, deserves a whole entry of her own--soon to come. 

i leave for vicenza tomorrow, staying with a high school friend and will be visiting verona and venice over the next few days, will check in soon.


xxox
-b